Risograph Print Sizes Explained: A4, A5, and A6 Compared

Quick answer

If you want a small, affordable risograph print that works on a desk, shelf, or small gallery wall, choose A5. If you prefer an even smaller, card-like print for a tiny frame or a gift, choose A6. A4 is the standard larger size, but Jacqueline Colley Illustration currently lists A5 and A6 risograph prints, so this comparison focuses on those two.

Risograph prints come in a few standard paper sizes, and the one you pick changes how the artwork feels in a room. A5 and A6 are the most common small formats from Jacqueline Colley Illustration, and each has a distinct job.

This comparison uses the actual catalog facts for the A5 Witches Brew Risograph Print and the A6 Gemini Zodiac to show where each size fits best, what trade-offs you accept, and how to decide without guessing.

A5 vs A6: the dimensions that matter

A5 measures 14.8 × 21 cm (about 5.8 × 8.3 inches). It is the size of a large notebook or a folded A4 sheet. In a risograph print, that gives the artwork enough room to read clearly from a few feet away, which is why A5 works well as a standalone piece on a desk or a small wall.

A6 is half of A5, roughly 10.5 × 14.8 cm (about 4.1 × 5.8 inches). It is closer to a postcard or a small card. The A6 Gemini Zodiac uses this smaller format, so the design reads as a compact object you can hold, frame tightly, or tuck into a card. The trade-off is that fine details shrink, so A6 suits bold graphics more than intricate linework.

• Measure your frame or shelf space before buying: A5 needs roughly 15 × 21 cm of visible space, A6 about 11 × 15 cm.
• If you are unsure, order one A5 first. It is the safer default for a first risograph print.

What each size is actually good for

A5 is the flexible middle ground. It is large enough to anchor a small gallery wall, sit on a bookshelf, or lean on a windowsill without looking lost. The A5 Witches Brew Risograph Print is printed in Margate using vegetable-based inks on paper made from 80% recycled coffee cups, and at A5 the Victorian-ephemera details stay legible.

A6 is the specialist size. It works as a gift, a stocking filler, or a small accent in a cluster of prints. The A6 Gemini Zodiac is risograph printed in neon pink, orange, and green on FSC paper, and its label-style design is bold enough to survive the smaller format. If you want a print that feels like a collectible card, A6 is the better pick.

• Use A5 when the print needs to hold a wall or shelf on its own.
• Use A6 when the print is part of a group, a gift, or a very small space.

Paper, ink, and why size changes the look

Both A5 and A6 risograph prints from this store share similar production values: recycled or FSC paper and soy or vegetable-based inks. The A5 Jelly Print is risograph printed in soy-based inks in neon pink, orange, and seafoam green on paper made from at least 80% recycled coffee cups. Those neon tones appear brighter in real life than on screen, and at A5 the color blocks have more room to glow.

At A6, the same kind of ink sits in a tighter area, so the print can feel more intense but less detailed. The A6 Gemini Zodiac uses neon pink, orange, and green on FSC paper, and its retro-label concept stays readable because the shapes are simple. If your favorite design relies on small text or fine lines, A5 is the safer choice; if it relies on bold color and shape, A6 holds up well.

• Neon risograph inks look brighter in person than online, regardless of size.
• Small text and fine detail survive better at A5 than at A6.

Framing, display, and cost per print

A5 prints fit standard off-the-shelf frames, which keeps framing cheap and easy. A6 prints often need a mount or a smaller frame, and some people display them unframed on a pinboard or clip. The catalog prices for the A5 prints shown here are USD 7.00, and the A6 Gemini Zodiac is USD 6.00, so the difference is small. The real cost difference is usually the frame.

If you plan to build a gallery wall, mixing A5 and A6 can work, but keep the A6 pieces grouped near the center so they do not get visually lost. If you want one print to carry a wall, A5 is the more reliable scale.

• Buy the frame after you choose the print size, not before.
• For gallery walls, place A6 prints at eye level and surround them with A5 or larger pieces.

Trade-offs: A5 vs A6 risograph prints

• A5: more presence, more wall space: A5 (14.8 × 21 cm) reads clearly from a distance and can anchor a small wall or shelf, but it needs a larger frame and more room than A6. Choose A5 if the print is the main event.
• A6: smaller, giftable, less detail: A6 is roughly half the size of A5, which makes it ideal for gifts, cards, and tight spaces, but fine text and intricate linework shrink and can become hard to read. Choose A6 if the design is bold and the space is small.
• Cost and framing: The A5 prints listed here are USD 7.00 and the A6 Gemini Zodiac is USD 6.00, so the print price gap is minor. The bigger cost difference is the frame: A5 uses standard frames, while A6 often needs a mount or specialty frame. Budget for the frame, not just the print.

Catalog facts for these risograph prints

• A5 Witches Brew Risograph Print: Risograph printed in Margate using vegetable-based inks on paper made from 80% recycled coffee cups, open edition, A5. A5 gives the Victorian-ephemera design enough space to read clearly, and the recycled paper and vegetable inks match the store's low-waste production approach.
• A5 Jelly Print: Risograph printed in soy-based inks in neon pink, orange, and seafoam green on paper made from at least 80% recycled coffee cups, open edition unsigned, A5 14.8 × 21 cm. Confirms the exact A5 dimensions and shows that neon inks appear brighter in real life, which matters when you are choosing between A5 and a smaller format.
• A6 Gemini Zodiac: Risograph printed in neon pink, orange, and green on FSC paper, A6, part of a zodiac series reimagined as retro labels. A6 suits bold, label-style graphics that stay readable at a smaller size, and FSC paper is a useful detail if material sourcing matters to you.

Which risograph print size should you buy?

Best for

• Buyers who want a small but substantial print for a desk, shelf, or small gallery wall
• Shoppers who prefer standard frames and easy framing
• Anyone who wants the artwork details to stay readable

Not for

• Buyers who need a large statement piece for a big empty wall
• Shoppers looking for a tiny, card-like print or a gift under USD 7
• Anyone who wants to display a print unframed on a pinboard

Pick A5 for presence and easy framing, or A6 for a small, giftable print with bold color. Both are risograph printed on recycled or FSC paper, so the right choice comes down to the wall or shelf you have in mind.